Theranostic nanomaterials applied to the cancer diagnostic and therapy and nanotoxicity studies

Multifunctional plasmonic nanoparticles have shown extraordinary potential for near infrared photothermal and triggered-therapeutic release treatments of solid tumors. However, the accumulation rate of the nanoparticles in the target tissue, which depends on their capacity to escape the immune system, and the ability to efficiently and accurately track these particles in vivo are still limited. To address these challenges, we have created two different systems. The first one is a multifunctional nanocarrier in which PEG-coated gold nanorods were grouped into natural cell membrane vesicles from lung cancer cell membranes (A549) and loaded with β-lap (CM-β-lap-PEG-AuNRs). Our goal was to develop specific multifunctional systems for cancer treatment by using the antigens and the unique properties of the cancer cell membrane combined with photothermal properties of AuNRs and anticancer activity of β-lap. The results confirmed the assembly of PEG-AuNRs inside the vesicles and the irradiation with NIR laser led to disruption of the vesicles and release of the PEG-AuNRs and β-Lap. In vitro studies revealed an enhanced and synergic cytotoxicity against A549 cancer cells, which can be attributed to the specific cytotoxicity of β-Lap combined with heat generated by laser irradiation of the AuNRs. No cytotoxicity was observed in absence of laser irradiation. In the second system, MRI-active Au nanomatryoshkas were developed. These are Au core-silica layer-Au shell nanoparticles, where Gd(III) ions are encapsulated within the silica layer between the inner core and outer Au layer of the nanoparticle (Gd-NM). This theranostic nanoparticle retains its strong near infrared optical absorption properties, essential for in vivo photothermal cancer therapy, while simultaneously providing increased T1 contrast in MR imaging by concentrating Gd(III) within the nanoparticle. Measurements of Gd-NM revealed a substantially enhanced T1 relaxivity (r1 ~ 17 mM-1 s-1) even at 4.7 T, surpassing conventional Gd(III)-DOTA chelating agents (r1 ~ 4 mM-1 s-1) currently in clinical use. The observed relaxivities are consistent with Solomon-Bloembergen-Morgan (SBM) theory, describing the longer-range interactions between the Gd(III) and protons outside the nanoparticle. These novel multifunctional systems open the door for the development of more efficient nanoplatforms for diagnosis and treatment of cancer. (AU)